Lanzarote's bilingual magazine

Daniel Hdez Padrón Spanish silver medallist

Daniel Hernández Padrón has his sights set firmly on the Spanish jet ski championship in the GP2 Promotion category this year after being pipped to the post last season

Now 21 years old, Daniel was just 14 when he started carving up the waves. As a young adult, he has already tasted success as a two-time Canary Islands GP1 champion in 2021 and 2022. He became the Spanish Circuit and Rallyjet runner-up in the same category last year but has his sights firmly set on winning gold in 2024.

Last season, he raced with a Yamaha GP1800, which had a slight disadvantage against his competitors’ machines boasting more than 300 horsepower. This season, though, he’s armed with a new and more powerful weapon, his Sea-Doo RXP-X RS 325 jet ski, capable of reaching blistering speeds of up to 140 km/h.

The shorter 2024 season comprises four races and Daniel has already made a promising start, bagging a third-place finish in the Circuit race despite being in the early stages of adapting to his new jet ski. And he claimed victory in the Rallyjet race at the opening round in Benalmádena, Málaga.

‘I prefer circuit racing; it’s my forte. It consists of three 11-minute heats, with everyone competing around numerous buoys along short courses. It means you have to master the waves and have sharp technical skills. Rallyjet, on the other hand, features two 25-minute heats with fewer buoys over longer distances, where endurance is key.’

Growing up in Lanzarote, where the sea conditions are challenging and varied, has undoubtedly given Daniel his competitive edge. He credits his upbringing with teaching him how to read the waves and surf them effectively.

With the support of the Cabildo de Lanzarote, Daniel proudly carries the Lanzarote flag wherever he races. He often hears, ‘Here come the Canarians!’ – standing out because there are so few competitors from the archipelago. This inspires him to pave the way for others on the islands to take up competitive jet ski racing.

Having come so close with his runner-up finish last year, Daniel is determined to go all the way this time. He aims to defend his title for one more year before moving up to the GP2 category and eventually competing in the Europeans, like his father, who finished eighth in his day, or even at World Championship level.

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